Editing UGM-27 Polaris (section)

== Italy ==
{{Main|Alfa (rocket)}}
During its reconstruction program in 1957–1961, the {{ship|Italian cruiser|Giuseppe Garibaldi|1961|6}} was fitted with four Polaris missile launchers located in the aft part of the ship. The Italian usage of Polaris missiles was partially the result of the [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedy]] administration. Prior to 1961, Italy and Turkey were equipped with Jupiter missiles. Three factors were instrumental in the movement away from the Jupiter project in Italy and Turkey: the president's view of the project, new understanding about weapons systems and the diminished necessity of the Jupiter missile. The Joint Congressional Committee report on Atomic Energy accentuated the three previous factors in Italy's decision to switch to the Polaris missiles.<ref name=":1" /><br />Successful tests held in 1961–1962 induced the United States to study a [[NATO]] [[Multilateral Force|Multilateral Nuclear Force]] (MLF), consisting of 25 international surface vessels from the US, United Kingdom, France, Italy, and West Germany, equipped with 200 Polaris nuclear missiles,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.airpower.au.af.mil/airchronicles/aureview/1967/mar-apr/kotch.html |title=NATO MLF |access-date=2010-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722141027/http://www.airpower.au.af.mil/airchronicles/aureview/1967/mar-apr/kotch.html |archive-date=2011-07-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref> enabling European allies to participate in the management of the [[NATO]] nuclear deterrent.<ref name=":1" />

The report advocated a change from the outdated Jupiter missiles, already housed by the Italians, to the newer missile, Polaris. The report resulted in Secretary of State [[Dean Rusk]] and assistant Secretary of Defense [[Paul Nitze]] discussing the possibility of changing the warheads in the Mediterranean. The Italians were not swayed by the American's interest in modernizing their warheads. However, after the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]], Kennedy met the Italian leader [[Amintore Fanfani]] in Washington. Fanfani conceded and went along with Kennedy's Polaris plan, despite the Italians hoping to stick with the Jupiter missile.<ref name=":1">{{cite journal |last1=Loeb |first1=Larry M. |title=Jupiter Missiles in Europe: A Measure of Presidential Power |journal=World Affairs |date=1976 |volume=139 |issue=1 |pages=27–39 |jstor=20671652 }}</ref>

The MLF plan, as well as the Italian Polaris Program, were abandoned, both for political reasons (in consequence of the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]]) and the initial operational availability of the first [[SSBN]] {{USS|George Washington|SSBN-598|2}}, which was capable of launching [[SLBM]]s while submerged, a solution preferable to surface-launched missiles.

Italy developed a new domestic version of the missile, the SLBM-designated [[Alfa (rocket)|Alfa]].<ref>[http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/alfa.htm Italian Alfa Program] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522045905/http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/alfa.htm |date=2013-05-22 }}</ref> That program was cancelled in 1975 after Italy ratified the [[Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty]], with the final launch of the third prototype in 1976.

Two Italian Navy {{sclass|Andrea Doria|cruiser|0}} cruisers, commissioned in 1963–1964, were "fitted for but not with" two Polaris missile launchers per ship. All four launchers were built but never installed, and were stored at the [[La Spezia]] naval facility.

The {{ship|Italian cruiser|Vittorio Veneto}}, launched in 1969, was also "fitted for but not with" four Polaris missile launchers. During refit periods in 1980–1983, these facilities were removed and used for other weapons and systems.